Maryland Online Casino Bill Heads to Vote, Voters Get Final Decision on iGaming
Maryland proposes legislation to legalize online casino gambling, potentially becoming the eighth state to embrace iGaming. House Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Howard) pre-filed House Bill 17, which would grant online gaming licenses to existing casino operators and qualified sportsbook licensees.
Key aspects of the bill include:
- Six commercial casino operators eligible for iGaming skins
- Five additional licenses available through competitive bidding
- $1 million license fee for five-year duration
- Tax revenue designated for elementary and secondary education
- Mandatory responsible gaming measures
Woman speaks to attentive audience
The legislation emphasizes social equity through a specialized application process. Applicants can qualify by meeting two of four criteria:
- Control by persons from economically disadvantaged areas
- Public school attendance in disadvantaged areas
- Attendance at qualifying Maryland higher education institutions
- Net worth within Commission-determined limits
Implementation would require:
- Approval from both legislative chambers
- Voter approval through statewide referendum
- Constitutional amendment
Currently, only seven states offer legal iGaming: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. The bill faces potential opposition, including from Cordish, operator of Maryland Live!
This marks Atterbeary's second attempt at passing iGaming legislation, following an unsuccessful effort in 2024 where the bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate.
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